Clutch-operating mechanism.



H. S. BARNWELL.

CLUTCH OPERATING MEGHANISM.

APPLXUATION FILED MAR. 18. H13.

Patented Aug. 25, 1914 1% N A m.

' 10 having a cross key 11 slidably mounted Seattle, in the county ofKing and State of .adapted to--be used .in setting the friction vThedrum is provided with a clutch portion -7 so as to maintain the clutchmechanism HORACE s. BARNWELL, or SFATTLE,l WASHINGTON.

CLUTCH-OPERATIN IVlECHANISM.

To alt -may concern Y Be `1t known that I, HORACE S. BARNWELL, acitizenof Ithe United States,`residin'g at Washington, have invented new anduseful improvements in Clutch-Operating Mechanismsyof ,whichthelfollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a' device for operating the friction pin ofthe clutch mechaordinari'ly employedI in hoisting drums andlogging-engines. The primary object of the invention is to provideadevice of this character' which is pin, with theleast possiblefriction.

The. invention consists in the features of construction, combination,and arrangement of parts., hereinafter fully described and claimed,reference being had'to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the device asapplied to the usual clutch mechanism of a hoisting engine; Fig. 2 is' atransverse sectional view online 2 2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction-of the arrow, and; Fig. 3 is a similar sectional view looking in theopposite direction.

Inthe drawing, the friction clutch mechanism of a hoisting engine isshown, wherein the numeral 1 designates the drum which is rotatably andslidably mounted upon the shaft 2 journaled in the bearings 3 and 4.

5 adapted to be brought into engagement with the clutch member 6provided upon the transmission gear 7, which latter is secured fixedlyto the shaft 2, a helical spring 8 being mounted upon the said shaft ininterposed relation to the drum 1 and the gear normally inoperative. Afriction collar 9 is mounted upon the shaft 2 against the opposite endof the drum for frictional en gagement therewith, and the shaft at thispoint is provided with a longltudinal slot therein for engagement withthe collar 9. In this form of the clutch mechanism, a plurality offriction pins are usually mounted slidably within the longitudinalopenings in the shaft for engagement with the cross key, further meansbeing provided whereby the said friction pins may be moved in-Specification of Letters Patent. i

Application filed March 18, 1913.

Patented Aug-25, 1914.

serial No. 755,183.

wardly to force the drum inwardlyso as to render the clutch mechanismoperative. In

the use of this construction, there is a great deal of friction whichheats the friction pins excessively, and often times 'causes expansionof the same to such a degree as to prevent proper operation thereof.v Ipropose to. overcome this objectionable feature by providlng a singlefriction pin, such as is indicated by the numeral 12 and 'which isrotatably and slidably )mounted within a central bore 13 provided in'the shaft 2` in communication with theI key slot 1 0.` The inner end ofthis pin is en ageable with the cross key 11, and a disk-s-aped head 14is provided upon the outer end thereof. The

friction screw 15 which is adjustably mounted within the threadedopening 16 of the casing 17, is provided upon its outer end with asuitable operating crank 1 8, and has its inner end externally threadedasat-19 for reception within thethreaded1 central opening 20 of abearing head 21;.' The head 21 is provided with an annular flange l22upon -its inner end which is provided with an internal peripheral groove23 forming a raceway for the reception of the antifriction balls 24, anannular retainer 25 being threaded onto the outwardlythreaded end 19 ofthe friction screw and being provided with an exterior flange 26 forengagement with the balls 24 to retain the same in position within therace-Way 23. This retainer is adapted-to be secured 'against rotation,when inoperative position, by means of the screws 27. The antifrictionballs 24 are adapted to engage the head 14 provided upon the frictionpin 12, so' as to lessen the friction when the friction screw 15 ismoved inwardly by the manual operation of the crank 18, in rendering theclutch mechanism operative against the tension of the spring 8.

In the operation of the device to render the clutch mechanism operativeand thus to connect the hoisting drum with the shaft 2, assuming thatthe said shaftis rotating, the crank 18 is operated in counterclockwisedirection so as to move the screw 15 inwardly. This movement of thescrew will bring the anti-friction balls 24 of the bearing head 21 intoengagement with the active face of the head 14 provided upon thefriction pin 12. Further operation of the crank will cause the frictionpin to be forced inwardly against the key 11, whereupon the drum 1 willbe moved longitudinally upon the shaft l 2 until connected operativelywith the said l shaft by means of the clutch mechanism. Owing to thefact that the key 11 is whirling rapidly with the shaft in which it ismounted, there will be considerable friction incident with theengagement of the friction pin therewith, which will cause the said pini to rotate with the shaft also. As the inner end of the friction pin isnecessarily sinallin diameter, there would be a tendency for the pin todrill a hole in the key ll unless this rotation of the friction pin werefreely permitted. The provision of applicants speclfc form o`f operatingmechanism. wherein the engagement between the heads 2l and -14 issubstantially frictionless, serves to permit free rotation of thefriction pin with the shaft 2 and thus materially reduces the Wear uponthe cross key and the production of heat incident therewith, which wouldotherwise cause expansion of the friction pin both longitudinally andradially and cause binding of the friction pin within the shaft opening.When it is desired to disconnect the drum from 'the shaft7 the crank 18is operated reversely, that is in clockwise direction, whereupon theclutch mechanism will be rendered inoperative by t-he spring 8` and thefriction pin 12 will become releasedy from its engagement with the cross-key as should be readily understood.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim is: 5

Aln a device of the class described, the combination with a shaft :indclutch mechanism mounted thereon7 ilw .said shaft being pro vided with alongitudinal slot adjacentone end thereof and with a central bore incommunication therewith, 'of a cross key slid- ;ihly mounted within theshaft slot for engagemmt with the clutch mechanism, friction pinslidably and rotatably mounted within the shaft b'ore withflt'sinner-end frictionally engageable with the cross key. a head providedupon the cuter end of said pin and having a fiat end face, a casing, alongitudinally adjustable friction screw mounted within said casing,means by which said screw may be operated; a bearing head provided uponthe inner end of said screw and provided with an annular race-way in itsinner face, a plurality of anti-friction elements mounted within thesaid race-wayA for engagement with the end face" ofthe head providedupon the friction pin, and,

means provided upon the bearing head for retaining the said balls Withinthe race-way. In testimony whereof l-atlix my signature in presence oftwo witnesses.

. HORACE S. BARNWELL'.' Witnesses:

SAMUEL J EWELL, FRANK SEYKORA.

